Poetry - The Coconut Seller

The Coconut seller 

(This incident happened in Front of Indian Museum Near the Park Street Metro Station in  2001)

I saw him standing across the road,

in front of Indian Museum board,

His hands clasped, down his eyes tears flowed,

They slapped him, on the ground his

                          coconuts rolled.

for the fault, his coconuts were sold,

A rupee more, as it was early morn,

People thirsty in the posh lane

with no other vendor at sight,

He could earn few extra pice.

He begged and touched their feet,

They abused him for this cheat,

He bent and collected coconuts with care,

I stood and watched with big wide stare.

Unto his cycle he fastened and fled.

Down fell a note from his.....

One of the gentlemen

                at least his dress meant so

picked the note,handed to other,

                exchanged the note

Maybe for a smaller note,

                and neatly folded into pocket.

The signal; had cleared

                Buses and taxis honked

I glanced at my watch!

oh! I am late to office by five minutes.

- Pankaj Mala